Peter Sparding
@psparding.bsky.social
SVP Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress (CSPC) in DC. Working on geo-technological competition and economic security. Previously fellow at GMF. New Book “No Better Friend?” on US-German relations out now with Hurst. Teams: Chiefs and BVB
Reposted by Peter Sparding
On the 70th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, I hope
folks remember that:
1) It was the fruit of over a decade of planning and activism and
2) The boycotters endured 381 straight days — every morning, every evening, every weekend — of threats, harassment and sometimes bombings.
folks remember that:
1) It was the fruit of over a decade of planning and activism and
2) The boycotters endured 381 straight days — every morning, every evening, every weekend — of threats, harassment and sometimes bombings.
December 1, 2025 at 5:42 PM
On the 70th anniversary of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, I hope
folks remember that:
1) It was the fruit of over a decade of planning and activism and
2) The boycotters endured 381 straight days — every morning, every evening, every weekend — of threats, harassment and sometimes bombings.
folks remember that:
1) It was the fruit of over a decade of planning and activism and
2) The boycotters endured 381 straight days — every morning, every evening, every weekend — of threats, harassment and sometimes bombings.
Agree!
Anyway the District of Columbia is an incredible city and I love it so much and I’m so glad I get to live here.
November 23, 2025 at 3:51 AM
Agree!
Reposted by Peter Sparding
Hearing that German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who abruptly cancelled his first trip to China in late-October, is planning to give it another go in early December. Details below👇🏼
www.linkedin.com/posts/noahba...
www.linkedin.com/posts/noahba...
Two weeks after abruptly cancelling his trip to China, I understand that German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is planning to give it another try in early December. The dates I am hearing are… | Noa...
Two weeks after abruptly cancelling his trip to China, I understand that German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is planning to give it another try in early December. The dates I am hearing are Decemb...
www.linkedin.com
November 13, 2025 at 9:39 PM
Hearing that German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, who abruptly cancelled his first trip to China in late-October, is planning to give it another go in early December. Details below👇🏼
www.linkedin.com/posts/noahba...
www.linkedin.com/posts/noahba...
Reposted by Peter Sparding
At final last Merz is doing the right thing for Germany.
Germany should have excluded Chinese high-risk providers from 5G critical infrastructure six years ago.
Better late than never.
Germany should have excluded Chinese high-risk providers from 5G critical infrastructure six years ago.
Better late than never.
November 13, 2025 at 8:54 PM
At final last Merz is doing the right thing for Germany.
Germany should have excluded Chinese high-risk providers from 5G critical infrastructure six years ago.
Better late than never.
Germany should have excluded Chinese high-risk providers from 5G critical infrastructure six years ago.
Better late than never.
Reposted by Peter Sparding
I feel like I say this every year but I really need people to hear it. Halloween is the best American holiday. Just kids outside welcomed into their world, marching around together, showing off their costumes to the elderly, parents meeting parents, neighbors catching up with neighbors.
November 1, 2025 at 4:17 PM
I feel like I say this every year but I really need people to hear it. Halloween is the best American holiday. Just kids outside welcomed into their world, marching around together, showing off their costumes to the elderly, parents meeting parents, neighbors catching up with neighbors.
Reposted by Peter Sparding
Sharing for awareness: For those able and willing to help, the Embassy of Jamaica in DC is coordinating disaster relief in the U.S.
They have asked folks to reach out to them at disasterresponse@jamaicaembassy.org to coordinate support.
The government has info on donations supportjamaica.gov.jm
They have asked folks to reach out to them at disasterresponse@jamaicaembassy.org to coordinate support.
The government has info on donations supportjamaica.gov.jm
Support Jamaica
supportjamaica.gov.jm
October 28, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Sharing for awareness: For those able and willing to help, the Embassy of Jamaica in DC is coordinating disaster relief in the U.S.
They have asked folks to reach out to them at disasterresponse@jamaicaembassy.org to coordinate support.
The government has info on donations supportjamaica.gov.jm
They have asked folks to reach out to them at disasterresponse@jamaicaembassy.org to coordinate support.
The government has info on donations supportjamaica.gov.jm
Reposted by Peter Sparding
The GOP has been extremely effective at shaping perceptions of the Democrats, claiming they support policy positions they don't actually support
If your strategy, as a Dem, for winning in 2028 *STARTS* by buying their spin and lies, then you've already lost
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/the-strate...
If your strategy, as a Dem, for winning in 2028 *STARTS* by buying their spin and lies, then you've already lost
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/the-strate...
The Strategist’s Fallacy in American politics
The average American voter does not think about politics the way elite strategists and pundits do
www.gelliottmorris.com
October 28, 2025 at 1:21 PM
The GOP has been extremely effective at shaping perceptions of the Democrats, claiming they support policy positions they don't actually support
If your strategy, as a Dem, for winning in 2028 *STARTS* by buying their spin and lies, then you've already lost
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/the-strate...
If your strategy, as a Dem, for winning in 2028 *STARTS* by buying their spin and lies, then you've already lost
www.gelliottmorris.com/p/the-strate...
Reposted by Peter Sparding
"Trump is poised to end Washington’s decade of the China Hawks," writes @semaforben. Smart column, including a sneaky jab at members of the China pundit class who have never been to China www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
October 27, 2025 at 8:46 PM
"Trump is poised to end Washington’s decade of the China Hawks," writes @semaforben. Smart column, including a sneaky jab at members of the China pundit class who have never been to China www.semafor.com/article/10/2...
Excited and grateful to learn that my book was reviewed In the latest issue of @foreignaffairs.com: www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/no-b...
No Better Friend? The United States and Germany Since 1945
Sparding, a German American who counts both countries as “home,” writes with equal insight about both places.
www.foreignaffairs.com
August 19, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Excited and grateful to learn that my book was reviewed In the latest issue of @foreignaffairs.com: www.foreignaffairs.com/reviews/no-b...
Reposted by Peter Sparding
German government is planning to invest approximately €350 bln until 2041 into materiel procurement.
FY25 includes 8.2 bln, FY26 will include 22.3 bln. The special budget is additionally seeing draw-downs of ~75 bln until 2027, the final year of the fund. www.hartpunkt.de/bundeswehr-p...
FY25 includes 8.2 bln, FY26 will include 22.3 bln. The special budget is additionally seeing draw-downs of ~75 bln until 2027, the final year of the fund. www.hartpunkt.de/bundeswehr-p...
Bundeswehr plant Rüstungsbeschaffung von mehr als 350 Milliarden Euro
Nach Aussetzung der Schuldenbremse für den Bereich Verteidigung und der Ankündigung von Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz, die Bundeswehr zur stärksten konventionellen Streitkraft Europa zu machen, haben d...
www.hartpunkt.de
August 19, 2025 at 6:00 PM
German government is planning to invest approximately €350 bln until 2041 into materiel procurement.
FY25 includes 8.2 bln, FY26 will include 22.3 bln. The special budget is additionally seeing draw-downs of ~75 bln until 2027, the final year of the fund. www.hartpunkt.de/bundeswehr-p...
FY25 includes 8.2 bln, FY26 will include 22.3 bln. The special budget is additionally seeing draw-downs of ~75 bln until 2027, the final year of the fund. www.hartpunkt.de/bundeswehr-p...
Reposted by Peter Sparding
💥 EU and US close in on 15% tariff trade deal that would mirror agreement struck with Japan
By the one and only @andybounds.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4fa5N1k
By the one and only @andybounds.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4fa5N1k
US and EU close in on 15% tariff deal
[FREE TO READ] Agreement would mirror accord with Japan
on.ft.com
July 23, 2025 at 4:03 PM
💥 EU and US close in on 15% tariff trade deal that would mirror agreement struck with Japan
By the one and only @andybounds.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4fa5N1k
By the one and only @andybounds.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4fa5N1k
Reposted by Peter Sparding
At the end of the current round of trade wars, I would like to see some political scientists look for correlations between (1) how dependent countries feel on the US for security and (2) how strongly they pushed back on the tariffs.
July 14, 2025 at 3:34 PM
At the end of the current round of trade wars, I would like to see some political scientists look for correlations between (1) how dependent countries feel on the US for security and (2) how strongly they pushed back on the tariffs.
Reposted by Peter Sparding
The NATO Hague Summit was a success against admittedly low expectations, but significant, substantive work remains, not the least of which is operationalising the spending commitment and building a post-industrial defence industrial base. @breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com/2025/07/post...
Post success at The Hague summit, the real NATO work remains - Breaking Defense
Joshua Huminski in this op-ed explores next steps now that NATO allies have signed an agreement to spend 5 percent GDP on defense.
breakingdefense.com
July 14, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The NATO Hague Summit was a success against admittedly low expectations, but significant, substantive work remains, not the least of which is operationalising the spending commitment and building a post-industrial defence industrial base. @breakingdefense.com breakingdefense.com/2025/07/post...
"We are here to argue now that policymakers are spending far too much time looking backward, fighting the last war. They should be spending much more time examining what’s emerging as a new China Shock.
Spoiler alert: This one could be far worse." www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...
Spoiler alert: This one could be far worse." www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...
Opinion | We Warned About the First China Shock. The Next One Will Be Worse.
www.nytimes.com
July 14, 2025 at 2:18 PM
"We are here to argue now that policymakers are spending far too much time looking backward, fighting the last war. They should be spending much more time examining what’s emerging as a new China Shock.
Spoiler alert: This one could be far worse." www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...
Spoiler alert: This one could be far worse." www.nytimes.com/2025/07/14/o...
Reposted by Peter Sparding
I see these tariff letters more as clumsy attempts at negotiating rather than likely tariff outcomes, but nevertheless this is quite a mess.
Time for Canada to turn the page...
BREAKING: President Trump announces a 35% tariff on Canada beginning August 1st.
BREAKING: President Trump announces a 35% tariff on Canada beginning August 1st.
July 11, 2025 at 12:31 AM
I see these tariff letters more as clumsy attempts at negotiating rather than likely tariff outcomes, but nevertheless this is quite a mess.
Reposted by Peter Sparding
Absolutely striking numbers. 65% of Germans support Germany significantly increasing its defence expenditures to reach NATO’s 5%* goal.
*it’s a 3,5%+ goal, to be exact.
*it’s a 3,5%+ goal, to be exact.
June 27, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Absolutely striking numbers. 65% of Germans support Germany significantly increasing its defence expenditures to reach NATO’s 5%* goal.
*it’s a 3,5%+ goal, to be exact.
*it’s a 3,5%+ goal, to be exact.
Reposted by Peter Sparding
Beloit, WI revitalized its waterfront and chose this way to celebrate it: by bringing to life Georges Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."
June 25, 2025 at 1:04 PM
Beloit, WI revitalized its waterfront and chose this way to celebrate it: by bringing to life Georges Seurat's "A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte."
Reposted by Peter Sparding
💥 Brussels has told EU capitals that Trump’s 10pct tariffs are unlikely to be avoided, and that the bloc must face up to an unpalatable choice between concession or retaliation, officials told @andybounds.bsky.social & @pmdfoster.bsky.social
Big shift in tone; mega scoop
on.ft.com/4dyCRiq
Big shift in tone; mega scoop
on.ft.com/4dyCRiq
Brussels gives ground as Donald Trump holds firm on 10% tariffs
[FREE TO READ] EU negotiators privately admit Washington’s ‘reciprocal’ levies are unlikely to be overturned in full
on.ft.com
May 28, 2025 at 5:57 PM
💥 Brussels has told EU capitals that Trump’s 10pct tariffs are unlikely to be avoided, and that the bloc must face up to an unpalatable choice between concession or retaliation, officials told @andybounds.bsky.social & @pmdfoster.bsky.social
Big shift in tone; mega scoop
on.ft.com/4dyCRiq
Big shift in tone; mega scoop
on.ft.com/4dyCRiq
Looks like Chinese online stores Temu and Shein are reacting to increasingly tricky market access situation in the US by trying to increase market shares in Europe. According to a German trade association, their online advertisement is up 40% since April in Germany: www.spiegel.de/panorama/tem...
Temu und Shein intensivieren offenbar Werbung in Europa
Chinesische Onlineshops haben es seit dem Zollstreit schwerer, ihre Waren in die USA zu verschicken. Nun beobachten deutsche Händler, dass die Unternehmen Shein und Temu ihre Werbeausgaben hierzulande...
www.spiegel.de
May 19, 2025 at 12:04 PM
Looks like Chinese online stores Temu and Shein are reacting to increasingly tricky market access situation in the US by trying to increase market shares in Europe. According to a German trade association, their online advertisement is up 40% since April in Germany: www.spiegel.de/panorama/tem...
Reposted by Peter Sparding
Xi’s visit to Moscow this week is a usefully-timed reminder to European policymakers of the hard ceiling on China-Europe relations in the coming years. My @gmfus.bsky.social colleagues put a neat little video together laying it out... More here: www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew...
🇨🇳🇷🇺 President Xi is in Moscow this week, demonstrating his deepening ties with President Putin.
What are the security implications of Russia & China’s closer relationship, and what questions do European leaders face? GMF Senior Fellow @ajwsmall.bsky.social answers. www.youtube.com/shorts/hSqo1...
What are the security implications of Russia & China’s closer relationship, and what questions do European leaders face? GMF Senior Fellow @ajwsmall.bsky.social answers. www.youtube.com/shorts/hSqo1...
Putin and Xi's Deepening Ties
YouTube video by The German Marshall Fund of the United States
www.youtube.com
May 9, 2025 at 11:17 AM
Xi’s visit to Moscow this week is a usefully-timed reminder to European policymakers of the hard ceiling on China-Europe relations in the coming years. My @gmfus.bsky.social colleagues put a neat little video together laying it out... More here: www.linkedin.com/posts/andrew...
Reposted by Peter Sparding
A few quick thoughts on how China is likely to deal with the current situation with India-Pakistan (since I am getting some questions...)
Thanks for the nice mention, Patrick. Here’s a quick rundown of how things have evolved since the book was published. Basic equation is the same: China supports Pakistan with military kit, diplomatic shielding, does not provide significant assistance to Pakistan in conflict scenarios beyond that 1/9
May 7, 2025 at 8:44 AM
A few quick thoughts on how China is likely to deal with the current situation with India-Pakistan (since I am getting some questions...)
Reposted by Peter Sparding
💥 EU to make €50bn offer to Trump to address the “problem” in the trade relationship, bloc negotiator @marossefcovic.bsky.social tells @financialtimes.com, adding that he was making “certain progress” towards striking a deal with the US
on.ft.com/4jILqd6 w @andybounds.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4jILqd6 w @andybounds.bsky.social
Europe ready to make Trump a €50bn offer, says EU negotiator
[FREE TO READ] Trade commissioner Šefčovič tells FT of ‘certain progress’ but warns bloc will not settle for higher US tariff baseline
on.ft.com
May 1, 2025 at 6:49 PM
💥 EU to make €50bn offer to Trump to address the “problem” in the trade relationship, bloc negotiator @marossefcovic.bsky.social tells @financialtimes.com, adding that he was making “certain progress” towards striking a deal with the US
on.ft.com/4jILqd6 w @andybounds.bsky.social
on.ft.com/4jILqd6 w @andybounds.bsky.social
Reposted by Peter Sparding
Germany has asked the EU to activate an emergency clause that would allow it to rapidly increase defense investment without breaching the bloc's spending rules.
Germany triggers EU’s emergency clause for defense spending
Acting Finance Minister Jörg Kukies also pushes for wider definition of security investment.
ow.ly
April 28, 2025 at 12:25 PM
Germany has asked the EU to activate an emergency clause that would allow it to rapidly increase defense investment without breaching the bloc's spending rules.
Reposted by Peter Sparding
US yields are rising sharply versus other advanced countries. That rise in US - foreign rate differentials (blue) should lift the Dollar, but it isn't. This is inviting lots of speculation that a "fiscal" or "policy chaos" risk premium is building, which is becoming harder and harder to refute...
April 11, 2025 at 2:26 PM
US yields are rising sharply versus other advanced countries. That rise in US - foreign rate differentials (blue) should lift the Dollar, but it isn't. This is inviting lots of speculation that a "fiscal" or "policy chaos" risk premium is building, which is becoming harder and harder to refute...